Francis James (Frank) Mulholland

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Frank Mulholland. Image courtesy Orange City Library.


Few people in Orange’s long history have achieved as much for local government than Francis James (Frank) Mulholland, who was town clerk of Orange Municipal Council for 40 years.

Francis was born at Peel in 1860, the son of Patrick Mulholland, who became the first mayor of Orange in 1865. In his youth Francis worked as a booking clerk for Cobb and Co coaches. He later operated a tobacconist and stationery business in Summer Street.

On 26 March 1895 the mayor, Simon Kearney, and Ald Charles James Smith asked if Francis would assist council by acting as temporary clerk. Frank attended his first council meeting that night, unaware that he would remain in that position until 12 November 1935, when ill health forced him to tender his resignation.

During Mr Mulholland’s term as chief administrative officer of the Town Hall, the town saw remarkable civic progress. Frank oversaw the merger of East Orange and Orange municipalities in 1912, the installation of a town sewerage system in 1917, the opening of Meadow Creek Dam (Lake Canobolas) in 1918, the connection of electricity in 1923 and the opening of Spring Creek Reservoir in 1931.

Following Frank’s death on 11 December 1935 the Advocate wrote: His motto was “Orange right or wrong” and nothing was ever too good for it.

A public fund was raised to commemorate the former town clerk and the money collected used to create a sunken garden in Cook Park. The Frank Mulholland Memorial Garden was dedicated on 14 February 1938 by the Minister for Works and Local Government, the Hon ES Spooner, who also opened the Park's fernery. The stone in the sunken garden was taken from the historic Orange Court House when it was renovated.

Opening of the Mullholland Garden in Cook Park on 14 February 1938. Image courtesy Orange City Library.
  • Miller, J., Holmes, D., and Honey, A. 2001, Orange a vision splendid, Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
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